Hoffman Lets One Get Away and Braves Win

Andruw Jones hit a two-run home run off Trevor Hoffman in the top of the ninth inning and the Atlanta Braves threw out the potential tying run at the plate for the final out Wednesday night, preserving a 6-5 come-from-behind victory over the San Diego Padres.

Julio Franco led off the ninth with a single and was replaced by pinch-runner Charles Thomas before Jones hit a 2-and-1 fastball over the center-field wall off Hoffman (2-3), who blew his fourth save in 35 chances.

But the Braves had to hold on in the bottom of the inning.

Mark Loretta drew a two-out walk from John Smoltz, and Brian Giles followed with a grounder down the first-base line that went into the right-field corner.

J.D. Drew fielded the ball and relayed it to second baseman Marcus Giles, who threw home. Catcher Eddie Perez got the ball and tagged out Loretta, who tried to score all the way from first on the double.

Montreal 6-4, San Francisco 2-14 -- Barry Bonds homered for the third time in two days to help the Giants rout the Expos in the second game of the doubleheader at San Francisco.

Bonds hit a solo shot off Francis Beltran in the fifth inning of the second game for his 34th homer and No. 692 of his career. The 40-year-old slugger left afterward to rest and Dustan Mohr replaced him in left field. Mohr, batting in Bonds’ spot, hit a two-run homer into the left-field bleachers with two out in the seventh.

Beltran became the 409th pitcher to give up a homer to Bonds, who drew two intentional walks before sending the first pitch he saw over the wall in right-center. The six-time MVP has 174 walks this season, 92 intentional.

Wayne Franklin (2-0) gave the Giants an impressive spot start, pitching six strong innings and getting his first career two-RBI game. After Tony Batista’s RBI single in the first, he retired 12 of the next 13 batters, including eight in a row in one stretch.

The Expos held a players-only meeting before the game, apparently to discuss why they didn’t get to bat last as the home team in one of the games. The doubleheader was caused because of a rainout in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on May 23, costing the Expos a home game.

Cincinnati 5, St. Louis 4 -- Rookie Josh Hancock won for the first time as a starter and Sean Casey drove in three runs, helping the Reds avoid a three-game sweep at St. Louis.

The Cardinals scored two runs in the ninth inning, but Albert Pujols grounded out with runners on first and second to end it. The loss was the third in 14 games for the Central Division leaders.

Woody Williams (9-7) failed in an attempt to give the Cardinals five 10-game winners for the first time since 2000. He struck out 11 but gave up five runs and nine hits in six innings.

Houston 9, Philadelphia 8 -- Carlos Beltran’s two-run double in the eighth inning helped the Astros hand the Phillies their eighth loss in nine games on their homestand.

But the Astros lost Roger Clemens. He is listed as day to day after straining his right calf running to first base on his two-run single in the fourth. He gave up four runs in three innings.

Chicago 7, Milwaukee 5 -- Corey Patterson hit a two-run homer in the top of the 11th inning.

Patterson’s home run came with two outs off Travis Phelps, who was making his first major league appearance for the Brewers.

Phelps (0-1), called up from triple-A Indianapolis after Tuesday night’s game, got two quick outs in the 11th. Then, he walked Ramon Martinez and Patterson sent a 2-2 pitch over the wall in right to give the Cubs the lead.

Russell Branyon hit two home runs and had five RBIs for the Brewers, including a two-run shot in the eighth to tie the score at 5-5.

Arizona 6, Pittsburgh 3 -- Shea Hillenbrand’s three-run homer capped a five-run fifth inning at Phoenix. Casey Fossum (3-12) pitched seven solid innings to end a six-game losing skid and win for the first time since July 1. He gave up three runs and seven hits.

The Diamondbacks, who ended Pittsburgh’s four-game winning streak, won for only the second time in 13 games. The Pirates fell 7 1/2 games behind the Giants in the wild-card race.

New York at Colorado -- The game was rained out. It will be made up as part of a doubleheader today.